Membership selection Process - Frequently Asked Questions
Is my chapter REQUIRED to use the Selection by Consensus model?
No. In the past, Mortar Board required all chapters to practice the Selection by Consensus model. While it is still recommended as a valid and comprehensive model, Mortar Board now allows variations of this model to be practiced. Your chapter will need to outline how you plan to conduct selection using your Chapter Action Plan and submit it to the National Office for approval. At this stage, the National Office will be able to tell you if your process meets national standards. Remember to adhere to the selection principles and Mortar Board ideals outlined the Membership Selection Handbook when you are deciding how to conduct your selection process.
Must all candidates submit an application or nomination form to be considered for membership?
No. Many chapters use nomination forms and applications to aid in evaluating and selecting members. Because selection to Mortar Board is an honor that is given, failure to complete or submit a nomination form or faculty recommendations CANNOT be a reason for non-consideration of a candidate. Some samples may be available online.
Since Mortar Board members are busy people, should the new member selection process be carried out in as short a time as possible?
It takes time and care to do a thorough job of selecting new members. The Membership Selection Handbook and other helpful membership resources are available online all year long so chapters can start early or work at their own pace. Helpful resources can be found online. Your chapter should discuss the selection principles thoroughly and should practice the process before you hold your selection meeting.
Is using a high grade point average as the chapter minimum standard a good way to limit the candidate eligibility pool and upgrade the quality of the chapter?
The scholarship requirement is the minimum grade point average representing the upper 35 percent of the junior class or a B average, whichever is higher on your campus. With the annual consent of the National Office, a chapter may raise its scholarship requirement. Limiting the candidate pool is not considered a valid reason for approving a GPA standard above the minimum. Keep in mind that raising the grade point average standard may eliminate potential members who are well-balanced in scholarship, leadership and service in favor of high academic performance. It also may systematically favor some groups/majors which tend to have high averages and work against other students.
Is the best way to promote Mortar Board membership to mail to each academically eligible candidate?
Mailing information to eligible candidates is a good way to spread the word about Mortar Board, but since no list is completely accurate, your chapter should use multiple methods. Try campus media, information tables, open houses, fliers, banners, displays (especially during Mortar Board Week), faculty/staff nominations and email to announce that membership selection is approaching. Your chapter may decide that specialized approaches are needed to reach certain groups of students (for example, students abroad, commuting students, non-traditional students). The best way is a combination of methods to be sure that all eligible students are reached. Please make special efforts to publicize to students away from campus.
If I know a Mortar Board candidate would not be a good member or is misrepresenting herself/himself, should I say anything at the selection meeting?
In selection meeting discussion, all Mortar Board members are charged with confidential, affirmative appraisal of candidates. However, to maintain standards of scholarship, leadership and service, objective and constructive criticism may be allowed. Consult with your advisor during the selection meeting, if necessary, if this becomes an issue.
If you can’t pay the membership fee, can you still join Mortar Board?
Yes. Mortar Board provides each chapter one gift initiation fee in case of financial need. The Coral V. Stevens Gift Membership may be awarded to one initiate or divided among several. The recipient(s) is (are) to be selected confidentially by the chapter president, chapter advisor or school administrator.
Can students studying off-campus (for example: those on international study programs, internships or students teaching assignments) and those who are graduating mid-year be considered for Mortar Board?
Yes. Academically eligible students in these categories are part of the candidate pool and should receive consideration. The Membership Selection Handbook, the Bylaws and your “people resources” (advisors, National Office and national leadership) can advise your chapter on questions related to these categories. However, students who will be away from campus are discouraged from holding an office.
Are all chapters encouraged to select an honorary member each year?
Yes and no. Each chapter is allowed and encouraged to tap as many as three honorary members in an academic year. Honorary membership may be conferred on a person who has made a significant contribution toward Mortar Board’s goals and purposes on the college/university and community or region. Approval is given by the National Office. No collegiate or recent Mortar Board graduates are eligible for honorary membership. Honorary membership can be approved at any time during the academic year but must be done at least four weeks before tapping. However, honorary membership should only be conferred upon deserving candidates and not be granted just for the sake of doing so.
Can new members be tapped immediately after selection?
No. Your chapter’s candidate list (OMR) must be approved by the National Office before tapping can occur. Please allow adequate time (three to five business days) for the National Office to approve your list before you plan to begin tapping. Under no circumstances may tapping proceed before approval of the candidate list.
What is tapping?
Some of the most vivid memories Mortar Board alumni have are how they were tapped. This rich tradition began as long ago as 1892, years before Mortar Board’s official founding. The phrase “tapping” comes from the tradition that members were (and many still are) literally “tapped” by the mortarboard of a current member to signify that they have been selected for membership.
Tapping is not the same as initiation, but is a step that occurs after a candidate applies and has been selected and before they have been formally initiated. It is simply a way to publicly (and memorably) let a candidate know that they have been chosen to become a Mortar Board member.
Today, tapping ceremonies vary greatly on each campus, but continue to create lasting memories for new members. It is an important custom to make these ceremonies meaningful and welcome new members into Mortar Board with pride. A more detailed history, examples and ideas are available here.
Where can I find examples or templates for materials needed for selection?
Templates and examples of all items you need for Mortar Board can be found on the membership resources page of this website.
What are the national dues or fees?
The national dues for each member to join Mortar Board are $75. The local chapter may also charge additional
fees for operational purposes. Additionally, each chapter must pay a $250 conference fee to help offset the conference costs.
How do I report our selected candidates to the Mortar Board National Office?
A new, easier method for reporting members and chapter progress is currently under development, including an updated Official Membership Report (OMR). However, this change is not yet fully completed. A temporary Microsoft Excel version of the OMR has been created for chapter use. During this interim period, chapters may choose to continue to collect individual member fees and pay with one check to the National Office.
Step One: After the selection meeting and before tapping
At least two weeks PRIOR to tapping, the worksheets labeled Form I and Form II of the temporary OMR must be completed and the entire workbook should be sent to the Mortar Board National Office at mortarboard@mortarboard.org. Be sure to save this completed workbook, as the data in this form will need to be used to submit Form III at a later date.
Step Two: Waiting period followed by tapping, orientation and initiation
As in the past, chapters must wait to receive national approval on selected candidates before tapping. The Mortar Board National Office will approve all candidates as promptly as possible. Once candidates have been approved by the National Office, chapters may tap new candidates and finalize orientation and initiation ceremony preparations. The National Office will send membership certificates, pins and membership booklets to the shipping address listed in Form I.
Step Three: Immediately after initiation
Within one week following initiation, it is mandatory to complete additional data in the OMR workbook submitted in step one. Chapters are first required to mark candidates as paid, refused, honorary or abroad in Form II, then complete the entirety of Form III. The entire workbook and payment for chapter members and fees should be remitted to mortarboard@mortarboard.org and
Mortar Board National Office
1200 Chambers Road, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43212
Detailed instructions for OMR completion are available here.
How will my chapter receive membership pins, certificates and membership booklets? Do I have to order them?
Once your chapter's Official Membership Report is submitted, a package containing all of the necessary materials for tapping, initiation and orientation will be shipped to your chapter's primary mailing address, typically the senior advisor. This package contains:
- Informational Mortar Board brochures
- Member Guides for new initiates, to be used as a part of orientation
- A merchandise brochure for chapters who may choose to order items for new initiates
- An Initiation Ceremony Booklet to assist with initiation preparation
- Mortar Board’s Bylaws, the Society's official governing documents
- Membership certificates for each selected member, with names printed as they were reported to the National Office on the OMR
- Official Mortar Board pins for each new initiate
Have more questions? You may want to check our About Mortar Board FAQ, Chapter FAQ or contact a national representative.
